The Great Recovery part 4

[TopOfTheCliff]

Time for a new thread. Welcome aboard!

You may have finished active treatment for cancer, be in remission or NED. You want to look forward not dwell on the past. You know you ought to be eating well, exercising more and picking up the threads of your old life. Join us and share the ups and downs of recovery. We understand!
Here are some resources we found helpful:
The Mountain Lion
https://www.cancerpal.co.uk/post/what-it-s-really-like-to-receive-a-cancer-diagnosis
Peter Harvey on Psychology of recovery:
https://workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf
Resources from Penny Brohn:
https://pennybrohn.org.uk/our-approach/resources/
Breast Cancer Now Moving Forward:
https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/support-you/moving-forward
Get your Oomph Back with Carolyn Garritt
http://www.oomph.london/home.html
Charity providing treats for cancer patients:
https://somethingtolookforwardto.org.uk/
Exercise is good for you:
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/exercise-cancer-patients
Any more suggestions? Post them below
There is also a thread for those suspected to have cancer, or newly diagnosed and facing treatment, and also a thread for those with Stage IV cancer who want to talk to others in the same boat.

@GrannyGoggles I am so pleased about your results. It is lovely when the people caring for us take on board how terrifying it is waiting for news.

I overdid things yesterday. I rode up a very long steep hill with my bike club to reach a coffee stop, then went to Pilates later. I am a bit broken today. In the long run I genuinely believe I am still capable of improving my fitness and strength but it is hard work! We discussed in the cafe at what point you accept that old age is coming and you are going metaphorically downhill. The answer seems to be late seventies if you are lucky! Then we actually rolled back downhill and I got a puncture and had to walk the last bit up to my house.
It is still grey and murky here. We have had about ten minutes of sunshine in February so far. My house is surrounded by vans that DH and his son are buying or selling. I need something uplifting. Oh and DM seems to have lost her marbles this week. The imaginary neighbours who party at night have been bringing plants in pots and leaving them outside her front door. I will have to go and visit to work out what is going on. I hope it is just that her gardener has arranged some spring bulbs nicely for her to look at!

Keep busy folks.

I’m a bit broken today too @TopOfTheCliff I did a day supply - it was exhausting. I came home and went to bed and slept and then was late to my art class. No dinner and a bad headache - due to the noise all day and lack of hydration. Art class is lovely except for them playing basketball for the last 30 minutes in the hall next door and it gets so noisy..

I think that’s the last time for supply.

I have an interview next week for a library role - I’m going to revise my little socks off! Surely something must fit my post cancer needs?

I just want a job in a reasonably quiet stress free environment, doing something useful where I can go for a wee and get a drink when I need one…

Ive finally got some info through re my insurance claim. They appear to have contacted my counsellor and she has texted me wondering what’s going on. I hope I can get somewhere with it.

I think I need to cut myself some slack. I’m making progress - it’s small but I’m doing it. Bad food this evening though as I was feeling miserable.

That's great news @GrannyGoggles and pleasing to find out quickly.

I'm also wondering how vigilant I should be without being overly so. I had genetic testing done (which was clear) and as part of that my risk of getting a new cancer on the "good" side was calculated. I sort of wish I hadn't been told that figure, even though I don't think it's that much higher than the standard population. I'm currently trying to work out if I can feel a lump on that side or if it's just dense tissue.

I hope you're feeling better @TopOfTheCliff and @FairyWren7 , and best of luck for the interview.

Hello everyone. I got the all clear from cervical cancer last summer after having chemo & radiotherapy to treat it. I’m back at work, life takes over but I still feel in a bit of a funny place. I think I’m still just processing it all. I’ve also started some psychology sessions which have brought up some interesting things, going back over the diagnosis & treatment. I have a spaniel so he’s been great at getting me fit again.

Hi @Yorkshiregold - welcome! I had gynae cancer too, I had chemotherapy but turned down radiotherapy. The whole thing is a head fuck! I found the entire first year after my treatment difficult, it does bring up lots of things and life changes, but now over two years out I do feel much more settled. These threads are full of women with similar experience experiences, so jump right in!

Hi @Yorkshiregold welcome to the thread from someone who hasn't been on it long! But I've been here long enough to know that it's a great place for encouragement and support from likeminded folk. I totally understand how you feel about being in a funny place. For me with active treatment for breast cancer over, it's kind of like, oh right so I get on the rest of my life now do I?

What sort of spaniel do you have? I have a Labrador cross who keeps me active too. They really are the best friends through all of this, I think.

@dotty2 I meant to say I love Cautionary Tales too. Has anyone ever caught After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal? (Some on BBC Sounds but the whole catalogue wherever you get your podcasts - I sound like an ad for it!) It's a history podcast that looks at the darker side of history, but never in a salacious way. Covers everything from the last days of Anne Boleyn through who started the Fire of London to the Enfield poltergeist. Might be up your street @FairyWren7

I also like Short History of... if anyone's heard those.

Welcome @Yorkshiregold I like your user name. Tea I presume?
Take your time to settle in, read some of the links at the top of the thread, and be reassured there is no correct way to do cancer recovery.

I am feeling better after a restful day yesterday, but DH is going bonkers with the awful weather. He needs fresh air and exercise like a dog. I left him complaining and went to visit various ailing friends today. I am back to being “an inspiration” which is a bit annoying but if it is helping my friend get through cancer treatment I can bear it.
My untidy house is improving nicely in the parts I manage but going downhill in DH’s areas so I have had some uncomfortable conversations and he is very defensive. I am just pushing on as I refuse to consider the alternative which is that he destroys our house with his clutter. To be fair the bike count is going down and there is a lot of stuff up for sale currently so I am hopeful we will see progress!

@PaperbackWrighter ohh that sounds like a great recommendation! I used to run a workshop called ‘History’s Mysteries!’

I actually started trying to do a podcast for my novel but became discouraged when my friends didn’t listen.

@Yorkshiregold welcome! I was introduced to that type of tea during my last trip back to the UK - it’s the best tea! This thread is great it keeps me sane!

Counsellor is just concerned about the info the insurance company want. Info way beyond her spec - the whole situation is crazy. She can’t advise me but I think she thinks it’s a matter for the professions I.e a lawyer.

I’ve managed to keep going this week - just about. But it’s been a bit of a struggle.

The only thing that has kept me distracted is the dog and watching series two of The White Lotus - even my painting class didn’t help - still life apples in pastels was very hard!!! I can’t draw very well so circular was a nightmare!

I think I understand your frustration with your DH's untidiness, @TopOfTheCliff , although in my case its going beyond frustration into aggravation. My DH definitely has hoarding tendencies. I've just opened a drawer that was groaning under the weight of things crammed inside and found a broken radio (since replaced so not like we need to get it repaired) plus various other bits and pieces of junk that should have gone to the tip ages ago. His dad was the same, a house full of junk - broken things, rusty things.

It's nice to hear I am not the only one @MissMarplesNiece . I had a friend round for coffee last week who is a professional declutterer for the council. She looked at the mess and pronounce that of the two types of clutterer she encounters DH is the obsessive collector type rather than the hoarder type with piles of rotting food and newspapers and rats and decay. Small cheer!
I got a post banned last night on a thread about a barking dog. I posted jokily that the OP should poison the dog and got piled on by all the dog lovers. I am scum apparently. I can see why it is fun to troll though, the comments were hilariously indignant. I think I shall stay off MN for a few days apart from this quiet corner. (Of course I wouldn't actually advise poisoning a dog, it was a joke! but not a very good one...)

@FairyWren7 History's mysteries sounds fab! I would've liked to have come along to that workshop! I sympathise on the lack of interest on the podcast - other than the highly critical ex-friend I mentioned before I couldn't really get anyone to read my novel (although I think I have to accept that says more about it than them!😂)

Sorry to hear the week has been a bit of a struggle, but I'm glad the dog and White Lotus have provided succour. Tonight, I'm looking forward to the highly spooky Uncanny on BBC. That's another podcast I've long been a fan of, and find the transfer to TV even scarier. (I'm a sceptic with enough of a question mark over it all to get spooked sometimes.) However, since my diagnosis I feel a little bit differently about watching spooky things - because obviously there's a ghost because someone has died, and sometimes that's from cancer and then I feel a bit weird. (To be honest if cancer is mentioned, I zone out or switch off.)

Sorry to hear about the ban and indignance @TopOfTheCliff - I'm hoping no one actually used the word scum? I'm a dog lover as may be coming through on my posts but really, some people take things too seriously!

Just ate a delicious Thai red curry and enjoying the second half of one of my 3 glasses of wine of the week! Happy Fridays to all!

@PaperbackWrighter I think we should keep going with it anyway! Maybe we should read each others?

Hi All
I had a review today at my GPs with the practice nurse. I went in to get a quick referral to the physio - the first thing said was that it would take an hour! We went through everything!
The crazy thing though is it was in my opinion way too late - when I was in the thick of treatment and needed that support I could have really done with it. But now I’m functioning reasonably well it felt intrusive. Weird!

Still at least they have that facility in place. Hopefully it can help others. And it’s there if I should need it in the future.

Great news Grannygoggles

Good luck with the interview Fairywren

Welcome Yorkshiregold

Busy week with working full time from home and went swimming twice, so busy with kids on half term, and just did 2 and a 1/4 hours gardening today with DH. We planted the rest of the bulbs and cleared up sticks and leaves and few things from garden shed. Weather forecast for tomorrow is windy and wet. Cleaners are coming next Saturday and doing downstairs and upstairs bathroom. Upstairs is clear but we need to do a bit of sorting stuff downstairs before they come. Very glad they are coming though, not had them since start of December. Had pancakes tonight which was nice.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Well done @MsPenguins making the most of the lovely day yesterday. Today is a day for lurking under the covers!
@FairyWren7 was the nurse assessing you for physio or doing a holistic review? I wish somebody would look at my cardiac risk factors now I am through chemo. We are more likely to have heart problems now thanks to our treatment.

I had a fun day out yesterday. There was a recruitment talk for the Clipper round the world yacht race 25-26 and I went along not thinking it was something I would ever want to do. After hearing the talk, watching the videos of scary southern ocean waves and touring the boat I am actually quite interested now. I walked a long way round the waterfront and realised I am now quite happy to walk a couple of miles instead of taking a bus or taxi. DH got a lovely long bike ride in so he is happy too.
I think today might be an indoor day for painting windowsills and fitting new blinds in the bedroom. Roll on spring!

Thank you for the warm welcome. @SierraSapphire head fuck is a great description & it’s good to know you feel a lot more settled now.
@PaperbackWrighter I have a sprocker spaniel, he has a LOT of energy!
@FairyWren7 & @TopOfTheCliff yes my user name is based on the tea, but I mainly drink Yorkshire decaf now but I don’t think that has the same ring to it!
Hope you’ve all had lovely weekends.

@TopOfTheCliff well I though it was going to be a physio referral as I needed a new one. But it turned out to be a review of everything including height and weight. No mention of cardio risk.

@Yorkshiregold ohh you’ve got a dog too! I have a schnauzer called Bertie! And a cat called Minnie - we do have the occasional picture swop on here so don’t be shy!

My weekend involved lots of swimming - super hot at the moment and a trip out to eat cake! (Raspberry and lemon v good) and that was about it.

Cake sounds good! As does swimming.

I realised the other day that I finished chemo a year ago, although other treatment continued for several months. Am also almost a year post surgery. Things are much better now than they were then though I have been feeling tired of late. People keep asking if I feel back to normal but it's difficult to remember what that was.

Anyway I am looking forward to spring and am enjoying seeing the first flowers start to appear. Hopefully I'll be able to do a bit more than I could last year.

Oh and @TopOfTheCliff it sounds like you may find yourself signing up for the race, how exciting if so!

Congratulations @demivolte it is great when you realise that the whole horror show is receding into the past. Every year that passes cancer free is a gift now. We all know there is still a possibility of recurrence but it lessens as time goes by, and so does the fear thankfully. I don’t think recovery is linear. Other factors affect your energy levels too. You just have to accept how you are at any stage and try to optimise everything to help with progress.
I shan’t be signing up for the Clipper Race. On reflection I decided that months in a small space with 22 other people experiencing fear, discomfort, poor food and no showers, was similar enough to cancer treatment to not be fun! I have shown I have fortitude, endurance and robust mental health under pressure so I have nothing to prove to myself or anyone else now. I will be looking for more enjoyable experiences!
I’m still working on muscle strength this week. I can see a tiny bicep bulge appearing now 😂 I do ache though. Time for a rest and some protein snacks.

@TopOfTheCliff I envy you your bicep bulge! I've incorporated some weights into my daily exercise routine but not seen any change as yet.

You made me LOL @TopOfTheCliff about your reasons for not doing the race. Here's to none of us needing to show our fortitude under pressure again!

I've been feeling a bit anxious about every little twinge, and also I just want to eat all the time. I think it's probably stress eating, but then the stress eating just stresses me out more! I'm not putting on weight right now, but I'm not losing it and I do need to lose a bit more as I have increased half a stone since I started my job. Sat on the exercise bike now! I should probably just get into bed though, this week at work is kind of hectic. DD is home for a few days though, which is nice.

@TopOfTheCliff those are very sound reasons not to take part!

@SierraSapphire my sweet tooth is a bit out of control at the moment, I'm blaming winter. Well done on the exercise bike.

@SierraSapphire I’m finding fruit and almonds are helping with the need for really sweet things. This is a bit unlike me!

Like @TopOfTheCliff I think my arms are improving a little bit!

@MissMarplesNiece - keep going!

I did loads yesterday - gentle yoga, gym and swim.

The ladies at the gym have a post it wall of positive messages - mine was : small steps lead to big journeys.